U-16 Neepawa Nitros win provincials

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Published on Thursday, July 7, 2016

The Neepawa Nitros receive their championship plaque from a Softball Manitoba represenative.

Back row (L to R): Coaches Ryan McLaughlin, Kyle Gluska and Kevin Sandstrom.

Middle Row: Hayley Lindsay, Baillie Sandstrom, Jordyne Andrews, Hailey Rubeniuk, Rylee Gluska and Kylie Birch.

Front Row: Caleigh McLaughlin, Alanna Crabbe, Ashley  Emerson, Christyn Blondeau, Julianna Davis. (Missing from picture: manager Andrea Wilson.)

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

A spectacular weekend of flawless fielding and clutch hitting has earned the U-16 Neepawa Nitros the Softball Manitoba provincial championship. The team earned the accolade by winning the U16 B Girls tournament, held in Morden from July 1-3. 

Coach Ryan McLaughlin, along with assistant coaches Kyle Gluska, Kevin Sandstrom and manager Andrea Wilson, helped guide the team to the victory. McLaughlin said the event featured 16 of the top teams from across the province.

“This year, we went into the weekend feeling as though we had a legitimate shot. The big thing for us was that these girls have played together since they were about eight-years-old. Previously, they’d never made it past the qualifying game, but they were determined to make it past those games and get the chance to play for a medal. They came together great and improved dramatically,” stressed McLaughlin. “We have a couple of players from Minnedosa and a few from Gladstone. We have one who travels in from Angusville to come play with the team as well. So this is really a smaller group of players. We have only 11 members on the roster, but they’re committed to the game, so that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

Neepawa began the round robin portion of the weekend on Canada Day, against a team from Park City West, based out of Winnipeg. The Nitros were able to establish themselves early and cruise to a dominant 7-2 win. The player of the game for Neepawa was pitcher Christyn Blondeau. 

In game two, Neepawa found itself dealing with a local favourite in the form of Altona. The matchup began as a tightly contested affair, but as the innings progressed, the Nitros started to assert their will and closed out the morning game with a 5-2 victory. Catcher Jordyne Andrews from Minnedosa was selected as the Nitros’ player of the game. 

The third game of the round robin and second game of the day for Neepawa was versus Southdale Blue, another strong squad based out of Winnipeg. Southdale has always been a difficult opponent for the Nitros over the years, and this time was no exception to that rule, as Neepawa was knocked out of the realm of the unbeaten, falling 14-1. Pitcher Rylee Gluska was chosen as the player of the game for the Nitros. With that defeat, Neepawa closed out the round robin with a 2-1 record and a second place finish in pool A. That would assure them a tough challenge in the playoffs, as they faced off against Boissevain, who finished in first place in Pool D.

McLaughlin said going into the playoff portion of the weekend, it was important for the players to shake off the loss to Southdale quickly and refocus on the task at hand.

“[The coaching staff] told the players ‘We are beatable if we don’t show up. But if we show up, play hard and focus on the fundamentals, we have a very good chance against anyone.’ That put things in perspective for them. That now, it was do or die. We were playing one of the best teams in all of the tournament in Boissevain, who had yet to lose. They were a dominant team at the plate and had a flawless defence. So essentially, we were into the quarter-finals and honestly, it was one of the best games they have ever played,” said McLaughlin. “We were up to bat in the top of the first. Ashley Emerson from Gladstone was able to drive the ball into left centre field for a double. Calleigh McLaughlin laid out a sacrifice bunt to move Ashley to third. After that, Kylie Birch came in and hit a single to drive (Emerson) in, and that was the only run of the game.” noted McLaughlin. 

“For the remainder of the game, both teams just played a remarkable game. Both teams were hitting the ball, but they were also playing flawless defence. It was simply incredible. Christyn Blondeau was pitching again and had a superb game. She was helped with some fantastic defence behind her. It was one of the best games I’ve ever had a chance to be involved with.” 

That type of confidence building game helped to invigorate Neepawa, as they headed into the semi-final against Grunthal. The Nitros simply found that next gear and took the matchup by a 5-2 margin. That victory secured them a guaranteed medal and the chance to play for gold.

In the final, Neepawa was challenged by the undefeated Brandon Heat, a team which was essentially an all-star squad selected from the multiple teams that come from the city. McLaughlin noted however, that by this point of the tournament, Neepawa had found it stride and was playing with a confidence that would make them an extremely difficult opponent for anyone. That proved to be the case, as after surrendering two runs to Brandon in the top of the first, the Nitros replied with eight runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. A big play from that early onslaught was from Bailey Sandstrom, who notched a bases loaded double. The final would end early as it was called after just six innings, with Neepawa earning the championship with a dominant 12-2 win. Christyn Blondeau would once again be named the player of the game for Neepawa.

Reflecting back upon the team’s monumental achievement, McLaughlin attributes it to the fact that all the players continued to improve throughout the weekend and build upon their early success.

“The girls didn’t panic and they had momentum. In the final three games, there were only three errors made by our team in total. They just found that focus,” noted McLaughlin. “The 1-0 game against Boissevain was really a true test of belief. The parents, I think were more nervous than the players. For the kids out in the field and at the plate though, everybody wanted the ball in their hand or to be at the plate.”

As for the Nitro’s program itself, McLaughlin added that it’s very gratifying to see all the years of  dedication from the players being rewarded in this manner. 

“Some great players have developed out of the program over the years. The players deserved this because they worked for it. It wasn’t anything I did, or the other coaches. We simply gave them tips and guided them as they found their game. Ultimately, it’s them who show those skills and put the knowledge to use and that’s what they did. It was so much fun to be a part of this.”